Exploring Hobbies at ISU

Perhaps you’ve heard the common saying that college is a time for discovering yourself. For many students, attending a university is the first chance they have to be independent, including establishing their own schedules, managing their own money and developing the routines that will last the rest of their lives. 

While these newfound freedoms can be exhilarating, they also can feel overwhelming. Unless you were socially gifted in grade school, finding out how to act and think like a real adult can be unexpectedly difficult. Sure, it often only takes a semester or two to figure out how to balance classes against a part-time job, and perhaps you lucked out with the world’s most extroverted roommate who drags you along on all their misadventures, but at the end of the day, the task of personal growth will always remain squarely in the hands of the individual.

So you may find yourself asking: how do I figure out who I am? In other words, how does one navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood as gracefully as possible? Well, first off, give up now on the idea of being graceful, only the rare few are ever so lucky. For the rest of us, we have to be ready and willing to make mistakes, and especially to look silly while doing so. The next step is simply a matter of knowing where to go. 

There is no better way to grow than through experimentation. Luckily, your average college campus is jam-packed with events, seminars, festivals, game nights and everything in between. Idaho State University is no different. On campus, we have several departments whose only purpose is to help students try things outside of their comfort zones. 

The easiest way to try new things will probably be to enroll in a class. Although that ship has sailed for the fall semester, the spring class schedule will be viewable on Bengalweb on October 25th. Most of the hobbies and interest classes are only one credit, and rarely include homework or other out-of-class activities. Beyond that, they cover an enormous range of subjects such as tap dance, wilderness survival, yoga, paddle boarding, fencing, judo, archery, dutch oven cooking and even horseback riding. The class roster changes every semester, so you never know what might pique your interest. The best part of taking a class is that you largely don’t have to worry about finding the supplies all on your own. 

Speaking of supplies, another option for exploring hobbies is to visit the Craft Center on the first floor of the Pond Student Union Building (PSUB). For a $2 door fee, you’re able to make use of many of the otherwise expensive tools the center has to offer, like pottery wheels, kilns and a fully furnished woodshop. 

“We have a little bit of everything that you could want,” said senior Jasmine Lindsey, who has worked at the center for four years, “We offer stained glass classes, different levels of pottery and hand building, calligraphy, glass bead making, pretty much anything you can think of!”

Aside from the entrance fee, the shop charges a small amount for any consumable supplies that you don’t bring with you, such as clay blocks or fabric. The doors are open six days out of the week, with staff members willing to offer a helping hand or other expertise if and when you need it. Unlike university classes, the ones offered by the Craft Center won’t impact your GPA nor do they all require a weekly commitment. 

“I’ve learned so many useful skills here it’s been ridiculous, and I can even bring in my own projects. Like if I get a tear in my pants I can fix them while I’m here, or make myself [clay] bowls for my house, or make tie-dye shirts for Christmas. The possibilities are endless,” said Lindsey.

If you already know that you’re more of an outdoorsy person, another place to check out is the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC), also located on the first floor of the PSUB. The Adventure Center has tons of seasonal gear for rent, such as backpacks, kayaks, tents and more. In the winter months, they even rent out yurts, which are a bit like cloth cabins and perfect for a weekend getaway. For those not yet ready to strike out on their own, the OAC also offers several excursions throughout the year including rock climbing, kayak tours and hiking in Yellowstone. Each activity has a different difficulty rating, so students can decide how much of an adventure they’re up to tackling. Most of the trips are low cost, ranging between $30- $70 depending on the length of the excursion as well as the supplies needed, however, each student is also eligible for one free trip! 

Lastly, students can also explore hobbies at Reed Gym on the upper campus. The gym features several tennis courts, racquetball courts, a 25-yard pool (which is currently closed for repairs), several cardio machines and one of the largest indoor university climbing walls in the nation. To use any of these services, all a student needs is their ID card. After checking in at the front desk, you can rent out whatever equipment you may need for no cost. This includes everything from balls and rackets, to weightlifting belts, to climbing shoes.

“[At the climbing wall] we’ll teach you how to belay, we’ll teach you how to tie-in, and then we also have auto belays,” said Junior Lauryn Smith, who works at the Reed Gym front desk. “We have a thing called bouldering. One side is about ten feet and one side is about twelve feet, and that’s the line where you can climb without a rope. So if you’ve never really done any of that, we can sit there and teach you, and help you, and kind of be a backup belay for you.”

The final step to finding hobbies in college is mustering the determination to try. On those rare evenings without homework, or during those awkward gaps in your schedule, deciding to explore something new instead of binge-watching more Netflix can result in lifelong rewards.

“When you’re in college you’re trying to figure yourself out, so if you come down here and start working on stuff, you may be a pottery aficionado and just not know it. It’s a really good way to figure out who you are and what you like to do, but it’s also a great stress reliever, because college is scary. So even if you’re just throwing pottery on the wheel and making a huge mess it’s still a stress relief,” said Lindsey.